Automatic wrench



April 11, 1939. FLEMlNG 2,153,828

AUTOMATIC WRENCH Filed June 1, 1957 lm r 5 INVENTOR. 8401 t." flaw/v6 QMM ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 7 Claims.

This invention relates to wrenches for turning threaded plugs, nuts and other retaining parts and more particularly to wrenches for turning the flat sided screw threaded plugs of locomotive grease cups.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective wrench for this purpose, and more especially a wrench which on being applied to the part to be turned retains its connection therewith throughout the entire turning operation of the part whether tightening, loosening or completely removing it.

A further object of my invention is to provide a fast turning and accurately operating wrench and, in addition, a wrench which by reason of a ratcheting action with respect to the part engaged thereby may be quickly and easily reset to new leverage positions without detaching the wrench from the part being turned.

In carrying out the objects of my invention, I provide a wrench with an axis member and a dog, the axis member serving to connect the wrench with the part to be turned and the dog operating on the flat exterior side surfaces of the part for turning the same in the operation of the wrench.

Pursuant to my invention, the axis member and the dog extend below the wrench body in lateral offset relation to each other to respectively position the axis member and the dog for operative engagement with the part to be turned on applying the wrench thereto.

A further object of my invention is to so fashion the axis member that it has a non-rotative connection with the part to be turned on applying the wrench thereto whereby the dog mayratchet with respect to the flat outer side surfaces of the part in the use of the wrench without detaching the wrench from said part.

A further object of my invention is to provide the dog with a driving portion along one edge for turning the part in one direction through the flat outer side faces thereof, and a cam portion along the other edge of the dog for ratcheting over the square corners between said flat surfaces on turning the wrench body in the opposite direction.

A further object of my invention is to provide the dog of a length sufiicient to extend above and below the wrench body whereby the dog by reason of its pivotal connection with the wrench body may be reversely positioned for turning a part in opposite directions.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating one embodiment of my invention-- Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved wrench;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the wrench body, the handle member being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the wrench taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and showing the 5 wrench applied to a grease cup plug, the latter and the cup being also shown in vertical section Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 10 55 of Fig. 3, the dog being shown in position ratcheting over one of the square corners between the exterior flat side surfaces of the plug; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, the dog being shown in elevation and in the position illustrated'in Fig. 5.

In accordance with my invention, the wrench has a body portion I and an outwardly projecting handle member 2. These parts are integral or otherwise rigidly connected and in the embodiment shown are in substantially co-p-lanar relation. i

The wrench body I carries an axis member 3 disposed in transverse or right angular relation to the wrench body, and comprising a plug engaging member l and a shaft or spindle member 5. The members 4 and 5 are rigidly connected being formed in one piece in the structure shown, and are disposed with the member 4 below or on side of the wrench body and the shaft mem- 30 her 5 extending through the wrench body to the opposite side thereof as clearly indicated, in Figs. 3 and 6. I

The shaft member 5 is revolubly mounted in the wrench body so that the wrench body may be turned relatively to the shaft member in the use of the wrench. The upper end of the shaft member 5 is threaded and accommodates a nut 6 which retains the axis member 3 in its connected relation with the wrench body. Washers 1 and 8 are preferably interposed between the wrench body and the members 4 and 6, respectively, as shown in Fig. 3. In this way the nut 6 may be tightened sufficiently to hold the axis member in assembled relation with the wrench body, without hindering a relatively free rotation between the axis member and the wrench body in the use of the wrench. The lower washer 8 spaces the wrench body above the element to be turned.

The grease cup and plug assembly with respect to which my improved wrench is particularly applicable is shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6. This assembly comprises a plug member 9 and a cup member Ill, there being a screw threaded connection between them as shown. The plug memher 9 screws into the upper end of the cup 10 and is employed to express lubricant therefrom to the bearing which is served by the cup as in devices of this general character. The plug 9 extends above the cup Ill and has an upwardly projecting socketed top portion II having substantially flat exterior side surfaces l2, I2 about the axis of the plug, as shown. These surfaces are co-extensive and meet in square corners I 3 which continue to the top of the plug. As before stated, the portion I l of the plug is socketed, the socket being indicated at [4 and being square in conformity with the shape of the portion I l which is also square in cross-section in the plug mem-' ber shown. The socket 14 also has fiat faces I5, l5 parallel to the flat faces on the outer side of the plug. The socket l4 opens upwardly through the upper end of the plug and receives the memher 4 when the wrench is applied to the plug for turning it. The member 4 conforms to the shape and size of the socket l4 and is held from rotation when engaged with the plug.

The wrench carries a dog l6 at one side of the axis member 3 being laterally spaced therefrom a distance suifioient to lie in the path of the outer fiat surfaces l2 of the plug when the wrench is engaged with the plug as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The dog extends downwardly from the wrench body 2 to engage the surfaces l2 and is connected to the wrench body by a pivot pin or equivalent element I! which also secures a stop member l8 to the wrench body for the dog. The purpose of the stop member will presently appear.

The dog It is mounted in an elongated slot IS in the wrench body and fits sufiiciently close to the side walls of the slot so that the wrench body may take some of the strains when the dog turns the plug 8. The dog has a free pivotal movement on the pin H and is maintained by gravity in operative position extending below the wrench body so as to engage the surfaces l2 of the plug in the operation of the wrench.

The dog l6 has a driving portion 20 on one side of the pivot pin l1 and a cam portion 2| on the other side of the pivot pin. The dog fits flatwise against the surfaces [2 of the plug in turning the plug, and in the embodiment shown, the driving portion 29 of the dog is formed by a straight edge extending along the dog. Hence, the wrench may turn the plug through the dog when the wrench is moved in a direction to force the driving portion 20 of the dog against the flat surfaces I2 of the plug. The cam portion 2| which in the embodiment shown is provided by beveling or inclining the opposite longitudinal edge of the dog permits ratcheting of the dog over the square corners l3 between the flat surfaces 12 as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6.

The dog l6 has a length to extend above and below the wrench body I, and by its pivotal connection with the wrench body may be reversely positioned for turning the plug 9 in opposite directions. The stop l8 has a pointed finger 22 extending into an arcuate groove 23 in the front face of the dog [6 as shown in the drawing. This groove is concentric to the pivot pin IT and has a length slightly more than a semi-circle so that the ends of the groove on contact with the fixed stop-finger 22 will position the dog extending below the wrench body for engagement with the outer surfaces l2 of the plug.

To loosen or unscrew the plug 9 from the cup Hi, the wrench is applied to the plug with the dog in the full line position shown in the drawing. This locates the driving portion 20 of the dog to the right of the pivot pin 16 as shown in Fig. 1. With the edge 20 in the path of the surfaces [2, the plug will be turned on turning the wrench to the right. In this action a horizontal leverage is exerted on the plug by the dog at the flat surface engaged thereby, and the plug will be turned by the wrench. To turn the plug in the opposite direction, that is, to screw the plug into the cup for expressing grease therefrom, the position of the dog is reversed, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, this positions the driving portion 2d of the dog to the left of the pivot pin IT. This change may be made quickly and when ever desired, and even without detaching the wrench from the plug. The slot I9 is long enough so that the dog may be swung about the pivot into its reverse positions. Also, the slot permits lifting or tilting of the dog as it ratchets over the square corners between the flats I2.

The cam portion 2| of the dog enables the dog to ratchet over the square corners referred to in the reverse movement of the wrench body to posi tion the dog into new leverage positions with the plug as may be necessary because of the confined quarters in which the plug is located or to impart on intermittent rotation to the plug. The cam 2| lifts or tilts the dog as it rides over the square corners at the upper edge of the portion H as shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This action continues until the dog clears the corner, whereupon the dog is free and drops by gravity into its vertical driving or operative position with respect to the next adjacent flat surface l2. The dog may be carried over as many of the flat surfaces l2 as may be desired to position the dog in operative position with the selected or most favorable surface for turning the plug in the reverse swing of wrench body. The dog as it trips over the corners does not swing beyond its vertical driving position because of the limiting action of the stop l8 as it contacts the ends of the arcuate groove 23.

It will be observed that the cam portion 2i of the dog is in the form of a bevel along one edge of the dog and that this bevel has reentrant portions 24, 24 adjacent the free ends of the dog. This provides a quick and earlier trip for the dog as it ratchets over the corners of the plug, and thus provides a fast acting wrench.

The stop l8 may be in the form of a U-shaped bracket fitting over the outer side of the wrench body at the slot H! as shown. The pivot pin I1 extends into wrench body after passing through the dog and has a threaded section 25 for connection. with the wrench body in its portion providing the outer wall of the slot IS.

The wrench shown and described is simple in construction and operation. As before stated, it is particularly designed for turning grease cup plugs of the character referred to, although the wrench may be constructed to turn plugs, nuts or other retaining members. In all instances the axis member of the wrench would have a terminal portion fashioned to engage the member to be turned and provide relative rotation between the wrench and said member for the ratcheting action of the dog. The latter, of course, would engage the flat exterior faces of the member to be turned and have driving and ratcheting portions as herein described.

The details of construction shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, except as pointed out in the annexed claims.

I claim as my invention:

'1. A wrench for turning a rotatable element having angularly intersecting exterior flat surfaces forming corners, said wrench comprising a body and a connected handle portion, an axis member revolubly carried by the wrench body in transverse relation thereto, said axis member extending below the wrench body and fashioned to engage and have non-rotative connection with said element, and a dog carried by the Wrench body in lateral offset relation tothe axis member and engageable with the flat exterior surfaces of the element for turning the same in one direction, said dog being pivotally connected with the wrench body on an axis transverse to the axis member and provided with a cam portion whereby the dog may ratchet over the corners between the fiat exterior surfaces: on turning the wrench body in the opposite direction, said dog having a length to extend above and below the wrench body so that the dog may be reversely positioned for turning the element in opposite direction.

2. A wrench for turning a rotatable element having angularly intersecting exterior flat surfaces forming corners about the axis of the element, said wrench comprising a wrench body and a connected handle portion, an axis member revolubly connected with the wrench body in transverse relation thereto, said axis member extending below the wrench body and fashioned to engage and have non-rotative connection with the element, a dog carried by the Wrench body in lateral offset relation to the axis member and engageable with the flat exterior surfaces of the element, said dog being pivotally connected with the wrench body on an axis transverse to the axis member and provided with driving and cam portions on opposite sides of said pivotal connection whereby the dog may turn the element in one direction through the driving portion and ratchet over the corners between the fiat exterior surfaces on turning the wrench body in the opposite direction, said dog extending above and below the wrench body so that the dog may be reversely positioned for turning the element in opposite directions, and coacting means carried by the wrench body and the dog to limit the swing of the dog to its reverse positions.

3. A wrench for turning a rotatable element having angularly intersecting exterior flat sur faces forming corners about the axis of the element, said wrench comprising a wrench body and a connected handle portion, an axis member revolubly connected with the wrench body in transverse relation thereto, said axis member extending below the wrench body and fashioned to engage and have non-rotative connection with the element, a dog carried by the wrench body in lateral offset relation to the axis member and engageable with the flat exterior surfaces of the element, said dog being pivotally connected with the wrench body on an axis transverse to the axis member and provided with driving and cam portions on opposite sides of said pivotal connection whereby the dog may turn the element in one direction through the driving portion and ratchet over the corners between the flat exterior surfaces on turning the Wrench body in the opposite direction, said dog extending above and below the Wrench body so that the dog may be reversely positioned for turning the element in opposite directions, said dog having an arcuate groove therein with the ends of the groove at the terminal positions of the dog, and a fixed member carried by the Wrench body and extending into said groove to limit the swing of the dog.

4. A wrench for turning a rotatable element having angularly intersecting exterior flat side surfaces forming corners, about the axis of the element, said wrench comprising a wrench body and a connected handle portion, an axis member revolubly connected with the wrench body in transverse relation thereto, said axis member extending below the wrench body and fashioned to engage and have non-rotative connection with the element, and a dog carried by and extending below the wrench body in lateral offset relation to the axis member to engage the flat exterior side surfaces of the element, said dog having a pivotal connection with the wrench body and provided with driving and cam portions on opposite sides of said pivotal connection whereby the dog may turn the element in one direction through the driving portion and ratchet over the corners between the flat exterior side surfaces on turning the wrench body in the opposite direction, said cam portion being in the form of a bevel along one side edge of the dog and having re-entrant portions adjacent the free ends of the dog for a quick trip of the dog in its ratcheting action.

5. A wrench for turning a rotatable element having angularly intersecting exterior flat side surfaces forming corners about and substantially parallel to the axis of the element, said wrench comprising a body and a connected handle portion, and an axis member and a dog carried by the wrench body to respectively engage the element to be turned and the exterior flat side sur faces thereof, said dog being laterally off-set from the axis member and extending transversely below the wrench body to overlap the outer side of the element and lie in the path of said flat side surfaces when the wrench is en gaged with the element, said dog having a pivotal connection with the wrench body in substantially right angular relation to the axis member and provided with driving and cam portions on opposite sides of said pivot, said driving portion serving to rotate the element by fiatwise contact of the dog with said flat side surfaces when the wrench is turned in one direction and said cam portion providing for the ratcheting of the dog over the corners between said fiat side surfaces when the wrench is turned in the opposite direction, said axis member providing for the relative rotation of the Wrench with respect to the element in the ratcheting of the dog over the element.

6. A wrench for turning a rotatable element having angularly intersecting exterior flat side surfaces forming corners, said wrench comprising a body and a connecting handle portion, and an axis member and a dog carried by the wrench body to respectively engage the element to be turned and the flat side surfaces thereof, said dog extending below the wrench body in lateral off-set relation to the axis member to overlap the outer side of the element and lie in the path of the flat side surfaces thereof when the wrench is engaged with the element, said dog being pivotally connected to the wrench body on an axis transverse to the axis member and provided with driving and cam portions on opposite sides of said pivotal connection, said driving portion serving to rotate the element when the wrench is turned in one direction and said cam portion providing for the ratcheting of the dog over the corners between said fiat side surfaces when the wrench is turned in the opposite direction, said axis member providing for the relative rotation of the wrench with respect to the element in the ratcheting of the dog over the element, said dog having a length to extend above and below the wrench body so that the dog may be reversely positioned for turning the element in opposite directions.

7. A wrench for turning a rotatable element having angularly intersecting exterior flat side surfaces forming corners about and substantially parallel to the axis of the element, said wrench comprising a body and a connected handle portion, a dog carried by and extending transversely below the wrench body to overlap the outer side of the element and lie in the path of the fiat side surfaces thereof when the wrench is applied to the element, said dog having a pivotal connection with the wrench body in substantially right angular relation to the axis of the element and provided with driving and cam portions on opposite sides of said pivot, said driving portion serving to rotate the element by flatwise contact of the dog with the flat side surfaces of the element when the wrench is turned in one direction and the cam portion providing for the ratcheting of the dog over the corners between said fiat side surfaces when the wrench is turned in the opposite direction, and means for axially connecting the wrench to the element and providing for the relative rotation of the wrench with respect to the element in the ratcheting of the dog over the element.

PAUL EDWARD FLEMING. 

